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An Apostolic Fellowship
The Name "Christadelphians"
A Distinctive Foundation
The Whole Bible
God, Creator and Father
The Vital Earth
Israel in God's Purpose
Promises to the Patriarchs
The Truth about Mankind
Man is Mortal
The Nature of Jesus
Son of God not God the Son
The Devil and Satan
The Good News
Baptism
The Kingdom of God
When Christ Comes...
The Life of Discipleship
Peace of Mind
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The Nature of Jesus There is one very
important result of a right understanding of human nature: it enables us to make sense of the life and the death
of Jesus Christ by making clear their significance in the purpose of God for us.
The Gospel of Luke describes how Jesus was born of the young Israelite woman, Mary of Nazareth, by the power
of the Holy Spirit. So Jesus was born Son of man through his mother. Thus he inherited our physical nature in the
fullest sense and as a result was "tempted in all points like as we are" (Hebrews 4:15). But he was also
the Son of God, because God was literally his Father. Experiencing within himself the desire for self-satisfaction,
he overcame every temptation. Thus he was able to submit to his Father at the crisis of Gethsemane, declaring "Not
my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).
So Jesus was "without sin" and became in his death on the cross the ultimate sacrifice for sin, "the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). His body was taken down from the cross and
buried. But a just God could not leave a wholly righteous man for ever in the grave. Therefore He did not allow
his body to "see corruption" (Acts 2:31) and raised him again the third day. Jesus, being granted immortal
nature, "death hath no more dominion over him" (Romans 6:9). So he ascended to heaven to sit at his Father's
right hand.
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